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Voters often use European elections as an opportunity to give the Westminster Government an electoral shock. That’s their democratic right, and today’s election will send a sonic boom across the political landscape.

But this is also a chance to take part in an election alongside 380 million other voters across Europe. The European Parliament will shape legislation affecting issues as far-reaching as trade, workers’ rights and action on climate change – this is an opportunity to choose the men and women who will be in the parliament’s committee rooms.

2. Is the EU vital for jobs?

This is a key dividing line between the mainstream parties and Ukip. Labour, for example, claims that “191,000 Welsh jobs are directly linked to EU trade” but Ukip in its highly controversial ad campaign tried to blame Europe for higher competition in the local job market.

3. Do I want a free trade deal between the EU and the US?

Negotiators have been at hard at work on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership which supporters claim could boost the EU economy by £100bn a year. The Tories claim the “prizes are huge, if only the EU is dynamic and ﬂexible enough to go for them".

Plaid Cymru fears it could lead to a lowering of food and environmental standards, open up public services to foreign providers and end the “protected status” of products such as Halen Mon sea salt.

4. Do you want a reformed EU or do you want to get out?

Pro-EU parties such as Plaid and the Liberal Democrats agree the union needs reform and the Conservatives have pledged to push for changes and then give the country an in-out referendum in 2017. Ukip wants to pull the country out of the EU.

5. Are you torn between different parties?

Help is at hand if you’re not sure which party is the best match. Swansea University has played a role in creating a cracking website that will pair you up with the party that best matches your opinions – http://www.euvox.eu.

6. Is EU membership essential for Welsh trade?

First Minister Carwyn Jones is adamant EU membership is “vital for our economic success” and a colossal chunk of Welsh trade goes to member states. But turmoil in the eurozone and new opportunities further afield have forced Welsh exporters to look further afield.

A Welsh Government analysis of changes between 1999 and 2013 states: “The value of exports for Wales increased by £8.4bn (131.1%). This was largely driven by exports to non-EU countries which increased by 384.5% whilst exports to EU countries increased by 39.6%.”

7. Is free movement of people good or bad for Wales?

For millions of US citizens, a key part of the American dream is being able to pack up your car in, say, Oklahoma, and drive off to a new life in bustling Texas. This is a new concept for EU voters.

Plaid wants the Welsh Government to do more to “target migrants with particular skills” who can help boost our economy. The Conservatives support “free movement for workers” but want to “stop benefit tourism and abuse”.

8. Does Europe need its own Children’s Commissioner?

Wales blazed a trail with the creation of a children’s commissioner in 2001 and Plaid argues that a similar position should be created at an EU level. The Tories do not support “new tiers of EU bureaucracy” and Labour’s manifesto boasts of the work its MEPs have done to crack down on the marketing of cigarettes to children.

9. Should the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) be protected or reformed?

Labour argues “resources should be shifted from areas such as [CAP] and put into areas of more productive economic development, such as research and development for new technologies and industries.” The Lib Dems argue funds are “vital for the future prosperity of our farming and rural communities” and the Welsh nationalists claim “only Plaid Cymru voted to protect the CAP budget”.

10. Do you support a financial transaction tax?

The Conservatives are proud of having “stopped” an EU-wide tax it claims would have “hurt savings and pensions and lost British and European jobs to the United States and Asia”. Plaid calls for a “nation by nation and international Robin Hood Tax on financial transactions, with the money raised being used to reduce poverty, both at home and in developing countries".

Labour supports such a tax, but only one “agreed by all of the world’s financial centres, including those in the US”.